Just about any high power rifle is plenty big enough to drop Whitetails in the right hunters hand. But, you still have the weekend warriors that will never practice or perfect their markmanship. you all know the ones plenty of blood trails , seldom any meat on the table.
Now depending on average shot distance, would tell you whether to step up or not. I have killed more deer using a .222 with Hornady V-Max 50grain shells than I could count. But, I would not use this rig past 200yds.
But, less than 200 my .222 and the Hornady with a placed shot at the base of the neck is meat on the table and antlers on the wall. His head will swing down and hit the ground before his body just folds up.